Therapeutic Hypothermia: Improving Outcomes

In 2009, the leadership team of this hospital empowered its multidisciplinary critical care committee to develop and implement a therapeutic hypothermia protocol. The protocol was instituted at the patient's point-of-entry via the ED for all out-of-hospital, post- cardiac arrest patients. The goal was to improve neurological outcomes for unresponsive adult patients who had been successfully resuscitated after experiencing a cardiac arrest. Additional aims included: reducing the time required to achieve the cooling temperature goal and maintaining a safe, gradual passive re-warming phase.

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)